Burundi president overthrown: Top general

Amid escalating tensions in the African state of Burundi, a top general announces the overthrow of President Pierre Nkurunziza.

The announcement, which was made during a radio broadcast by Major General Godefroid Niyombare on Wednesday, followed weeks of violent protests against the head of state’s bid to stand for a third term.

It also came hours after Nkurunziza arrived in neighboring Tanzania for talks to end the crisis.

Niyombare, who had been sacked from his position as the country’s powerful chief of intelligence in February, said top officers were “dismissing” Nkurunziza and that a national salvation committee had been set up to run the country.

Also on Wednesday, demonstrations against the president’s bid for a third term heated up, with troops surrounding the national radio station and a police officer opening fire at protesters in the country’s capital Bujumbura.